Campaign lost for sprint star
Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) will miss the G1 TJ Smith S. with his autumn campaign curtailed by a foot injury.
Trainer John O’Shea confirmed the 5-year-old will be sent for a spell and will now be targeted at The Everest in the spring.
Lost And Running was most recently seen when finishing 14th in the G1 Newmarket H.
“Due to some feet complications post run in the Newmarket, we have decided Lost And Running will be spelled ahead of his Everest campaign in the spring,” O’Shea’s yard confirmed via Twitter.
Lost And Running (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
However, upset Newmarket H. winner Roch 'N' Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) will tackle the TJ Smith S. on April 2.
"She looks absolutely fabulous,” trainer Mike Moroney said. “She’s a very contented mare, is eating everything and has actually put weight on since the win.
“She’s had a bit of travel, from Matamata to Trentham and then the trip here but you wouldn’t know it, her constitution is amazing.
“I haven’t done much with her since the Newmarket but she is lovely and bright and bouncing about like she is ready to go again which is exactly what we want.”
Brooklyn Park mourns Ambidexter
Brooklyn Park has confirmed the death of resident stallion Ambidexter after a severe colic attack.
Ambidexter, a Group 2-winning son of Commands, moved to the Tasmanian farm last year from Cornerstone Stud and served a first book of 28 mares.
“It’s with a heavy heart the Brooklyn Park Stud team share with you this evening that our adored stallion Ambidexter has passed away, Dex suffered a severe colic attack,” Brooklyn Park said in a Twitter post.
“He was such a kind boy and a pleasure to stand. Thankyou @CornerstoneStud for your part.”
Argentia set for Sangster
Frankel (GB) filly Argentia will be readied for the G1 Robert Sangster S. in Adelaide in May.
Co-trainer Sam Freedman told Racing.com that the stable had decided to bring her back to the 1200-metre trip in Adelaide.
Argentia | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
"I thought she ran the trip (1600 metres of the Kewney) out fine but we just feel that perhaps at this stage of her career, where she is at the moment, she won't be ready for a 2000-metre race and we would appreciate a little bit more time," said Freedman, who trains in partnership with his father Anthony.
"That 1200 metres gives her a little freshen and going back in trip, I think she really relishes stronger tempo in her races, which you don't generally get in a lot of these 3-year-old fillies races - they are generally farcically run."
Collett injured in Warwick Farm fall
Jason Collett suffered a suspected broken collarbone in a nasty race fall at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Collett fell from the Matthew Smith-trained Flambeur (USA) (Mizzen Mast {USA}) near the 300-metres mark in The Agency BM72 H. (2400 metres).
Jason Collett | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The injured jockey was conscious when taken to Liverpool Hospital, with a suspected broken collarbone.
Collett was booked for nine rides at Saturday's feature Rosehill meeting, including Stray (Thunder Fantasy) in the G1 Vinery Stud S.
Waterford impresses on Australian debut
Impressive import Waterford (Ire) delivered a first Australian win for his young Derrinstown Stud sire Awtaad (Ire), with an authoritative victory at Warwick Farm.
Having his first start in Australia, the Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old powered past his rivals to win by 2.9l. defeating Headliner (Star Turn) and Naval Seal (Snitzel).
The margin and manner of victory indicated much better awaits the colt whose only previous start was a third at Newbury last July.
Rawiller free to ride on Saturday
Nash Rawiller is free to ride Mokulua (Redoute's Choice) in the G1 Vinery Stud S. and Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}) in the G1 Tancred S. after successfully appealing a suspension he incurred when riding Sweet Ride (Deep Field) in the G1 Golden Slipper S.
Think It Over and Nash Rawiller | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Racing NSW Appeal Panel overturned the suspension, reducing it to a reprimand, allowing Rawiller to ride at Rosehill on Saturday.
“I can’t do anything about the weather but it’s great that the horse and Nash can continue their partnership,” Parker said.
Pike stays put
Star jockey William Pike insists Sydney is now his permanent home and he has no plans to return to Western Australia.
“My family is coming across, I don’t see any point in making this move and not seeing it out for as long as I possibly can,” Pike told News Corp.
“Even if things (vaccination mandate) change in WA, I will be staying in Sydney as I want to make a real go of it here.
William Pike | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It is definitely going to be a prolonged stay, it could very well be indefinite."
Pike, who left WA racing because of vaccine mandates, has ridden nine winners since starting in New South Wales in mid-February.
Dolan gets his chance in spotlight
Days after winning the G1 The Galaxy on Shelby Sixtysix (Toronado {Ire}), giving him his greatest day in the saddle, Robbie Dolan confirmed he will feature on Australia’s biggest reality TV show, The Voice.
Dolan will be one of the featured contestants on the upcoming series.
Shelby Sixtysix and Robbie Dolan after winning the G1 The Galaxy | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
"This opportunity feels like a dream come true," Dolan told the Daily Telegraph.
“I’ve always wanted to do this since I was a little kid. But racing just took over my life.”
Aussie plans for Mali Ston
Group 1 performer Mali Ston (NZ) (El Roca) could be set for on Australian campaign this autumn.
Trainer Darryn Weatherley thinks progressive 4-year-old, a winner of five of his eight starts, can measure up across the Tasman.
Mali Ston (NZ) (red and white checkered cap) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“There are a couple of races over there we are looking at, but it is up in the air at the moment,” Weatherley said.
“There is a race at Randwick on April 16, which is in his 100-rating band. It’s a 1400 metre race and two weeks after that there is a mile race for him.”
The latter option is the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600 metres) on April 30.
“We could give him those couple of runs this autumn and then bring him home for a well-deserved break and get him ready for the spring,” Weatherley said.
Irish Girl heads south
Trainer Kenny Rae feels Irish Girl (NZ) (El Roca) can make an impression on her trip south to tackle the G3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders' S. at Riccarton on Saturday.
Irish Girl looks well-placed under the set-weights and penalties conditions of the race in which every horse in the fillies and mares feature will carry 55kg.
"It's a tailor-made race for her. She's a 90-rated mare on the same weights as every other horse and none are rated as high as she is," Rae said.
Irish Girl (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
"To me, if she can't win that, then she's not a stakes horse. The only thing I don't like is the draw. Barrier one late in the day at Riccarton can be a bit tricky but she can lead if she has to. We'll just see how the track plays. That's the other thing: if it's any worse than a slow 8 we might be in trouble.
"She's settled in perfectly but for her it's a home away from home. She's been there before and loves it there."
Should Irish Girl race up to expectations and come through the assignment to the stable's satisfaction, she could go on to the Listed Easter Cup on April 9 before a tilt at the G3 Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton on April 23.
Arrests in French racing
Twenty-three people remained in custody Tuesday night after searches took place in racing stables throughout France, Italy and Spain, according to a report in Wednesday's Jour de Galop, which reported that those held come from “every racing discipline,” who are being investigated for equine doping, organised crime, and association with criminals, the paper reports.
While the JDG listed several of those arrested, none came from the Thoroughbred discipline, but were all National Hunt or trotting trainers.
They said that the investigation has been ongoing for a year, and was launched at the initiative of the Central Service of Racing and Gaming's specialised interregional entity located in Bordeaux. And while it bears a striking resemblance to the Rossi affair just three months ago, the paper says the two are not linked.
Sandrine heads to 1000 Guineas
Kirsten Rausing's Group 2 winner Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten {USA}) will make her 2022 debut in the 1600 metre G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1.
A winner at first asking over the Kempton all-weather in May of 2021, the daughter of Seychelloise (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) followed up with a score in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot, prior to capturing the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. back at HQ in July.
Second in the G2 Lowther S. at York on August 19, the consistent filly was third in the G1 Cheveley Park S. to end her year on September 25. The Guineas will be her first time going beyond six furlongs.
“She's great,” trainer Andrew Balding told Sky Sports Racing. “She had a lovely winter holiday back at (the owner's) Lanwades Stud and came back in magnificent condition.
“She's really done well over the winter and we're hopeful she might stay a mile. We'll find that out in the Guineas. If she doesn't, she'll be a very smart sprinter, but she's a horse we're really looking forward to this year.”
Almanzor share tops Digital Sale
A stallion share in Almanzor (Fr) topped Fasig-Tipton's inaugural March Digital Selected Sale when selling for US$250,000 (AU$335,000) to Riviera Equine SARL/Haras d'Etreham when online bidding concluded.
The 9-year-old stallion, who stands in France at Haras d'Etreham and Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, will be represented by his first crop of 3-year-olds this year. A Group 1 winner on the racetrack, he is the sire of Dynastic (NZ), who is Group 1-placed in New Zealand, as well as the Group-placed Andalus (NZ) and Queen Trezy (Fr).
Almanzor (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
Also bringing six figures at the auction was Bramble Berry (USA) (Brethren {USA}) (hip 18), who sold for US$150,000 (AU$201,000) to Kiki Courtelis of Town and Country Farm. The 5-year-old mare was most recently second in the March 12 G3 Hurricane Bertie S. for owner RyZan Sun Racing and trainer Kent Sweezey.
“We haven't decided if we are going to keep running her or not,” said Town and Country President Shannon Potter. “We were just looking to add something to the broodmare band. We like these young racemares. We had a couple of people go look at her for us because she is in Florida right now.”
